Trimmer-edger with handle clamp

ABSTRACT

A multi-positionable head for a power-operated trimmer-edger which is ground supported and operator-guided. The cutter head is adjustably supported upon a handle extension to locate a rotating blade in either a vertical edging or horizontal trimming position. The head includes a journal-socket enclosing a spring clamp releasably gripping the shaft. Means is provided to limit the relative rotation between the head and handle extension, and to positively position and retain the parts in the desired positions.

United States Patent 1191 Ehrlich TRIMMER-EDGER WITH HANDLE CLAMP [75] Inventor: Stephen Jeffrey Ehrlich,

Randallstown, Md.

.[73] Assignee: The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company, Towson, Md.

[22] Filed: Nov. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 309,917

[52] US. Cl. 56/17.l [51] Int. Cl A01d 35/20 [58] Field Of Search 56/l7.1, 16.9, 17.5, 17.2, 56/241; 306/12, 16, 17, 3, 2, 5; 287/14; 30/D1G. 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,561,199 2/1971 Lay 56/17.1

1451 Apr. 16, 1974 3,006,668 10/1961 Stewart 287/14 3,350,864 11/1967 Sheps et al ..56/l7.5

Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida [5 7] ABSTRACT A multi-positionable head for a power-operated trimmer-edger which is ground supported and operatorguided. The cutter head is adjustably supported upon a handle extension to locate a rotating blade in either a vertical edging or horizontal trimming position. The head includes a journal-socket enclosing a spring clamp releasably gripping the shaft. Means is provided to limit the relative rotation between the head and handle extension, and to positively position and retain the parts in the desired positions.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENT Enm 15 m4 saw 1 or z Till. d:

1. TRIMMER-EDGER WITH HANDLE CLAMP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to poweroperated trimmeredgers, and more particularly to a trimmer-edger having an improved adjustable head' positioning and retaining means. The inventive construction includes a minimum of parts, nearly all of which are internal and out of sight, and is therefore relatively inexpensive and neat in appearance. Furthermore, this construction is positive and reliable in operation and is durable in construction.

Specific and additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is'a fragmentary perspective view of a trimmer-edger embodying the present invention, and shown in the edging position;

FIG. 2 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 1 shown with the parts in position for trimming;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the component parts of this inven tion;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with portions broken away, showing the parts of FIG. 3 interconnected and positioned for edging;

, FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken substantially on the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing in detail, and first considering FIGS. 1 and 2, a trimmer-edger embodying the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and com prises a head 12 including a motor housing 14 and blade housing 15 receiving the end of a handle 20. A pair of ground engaging wheels'24 are carried by a wheel housing26 fixed to the handle 20, and the latter extends upwardly and terminates in a hand grip 21 for control and manipulation of the trimmer edger 10.

In the showing of FIG. 1, the head 10 is positioned so that a rotary blade 23 disposed in the blade housing 15 rotates through a vertical plane and edges the grass along sidewalks, driveways, etc. To this end, a guide 25 (FIGS. 2 and 4) depends from the blade housing 15 and is adapted to ride along the sidewalk, for example. In FIG. 2, the head 12 has been rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 1 and the blade 23 now rotates through a horizontal plane for trimming adjacent foundations, low bushes, around trees etc. The motor housing 14 encloses and supports an electric or gasoline powered motor having an output shaft 27 to which the blade 23 is attached. In the former, motor control means such as a switch trigger 27 can be incorporated at the hand grip 21 on the handle means however, these features are well known in the art and do not require specific illustration nor further description here.

The two-part casting l4, 15 forming the motor housing and blade housing, respectively, of the head 12, are

secured together along a parting line by bolts 32 and nuts 33. The mating housing parts 14, 115 define a rear wall 34-having a circular opening 36 receiving a lower, terminal end of a hollow tube 18 forming a part of the handle 20. The head 12 is adjustably secured to this end of the tube 18 by improved means, generally indicated' at 46, so that the head 12 is quickly adjustable from the trimming to the edging position, and is securely retained in either adjusted position.

Thus, the tube securing means 46 comprises a C- shaped band or clamp 48 wholly disposed within a cavity 49 formed by the housings 14, 15 and enveloping the tube 18. The band 48 has an arcuate slot 76 through which extends a rivet 84, screw or the like, fixed to the tube 18, and the band 48 has an axial flange 50 fixed to the blade housing 15 by a screw 44. The interengaged rivet 84 and slot 76 prevent the tube 18 from pulling out of the head 12 and limit relative pivotal movement therebetween to the angular extent of the slot 76 less the diameter of the rivet 84. For the disclosed device, the extent to pivotal movement is at least 90.

The band 48 is adapted to be clamped tightly about the tube 18 to lock the head 12 to the handle 20 in selected adjusted positions. To this end, a carriage bolt 62 extends through a square opening 56 in a leg 54 integral with band 48, through an opening 58 in flange 50, and outwardly of motor housing 14 through opening 66. The carriage bolt 62 has a square neck 64 nonrotatably received in the opening 56, and has a wing nut and washer 68 fitted on its outer end.

It will be appreciated that when the wing nut 70 is tightened on the bolt 62, the bolt head 64 is drawn upwardly and thereby closes and tightens the band 48 about the tube 18. This locks the head 12 to the handle 20. and prevents relative rotation therebetween. Conversely, when the wing nut 70 is loosened, the natural spring action of band 48 causes it to open and releases head 12 from tube 18. In this position of the parts, head 12 can be adjusted relative to handle 20. The band 48 serves as a bearing for the tube 18 and is produced from a material affording bearing action and permitting ready rotation to attain the positions of the housing illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The head 12 can be locked to handle tube 18 for any position of the rivet 84 along the slot 76. However, means is provided to accurately and positively position the head 12 relative to the tube 18 for the trimming and the edging positions described above. Thus, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arcuate slot 76 has an axial extension 78, 80 at each end thereof, each shaped to snugly receive rivet 84. These extensions 78, 80 are circumferentially spaced to locate the head 12 in oriented positions corresponding to horizontal trimming and vertical edging disposition of the blade 23.

The slot 76 is shaped to smoothly cam the rivet 84 into either of the extensions 78, 80 when the head 12 is turned to the trimming" and edging positions respectively, while the extensions 78, 80 are sufficiently deep and are shaped to resist withdrawal of rivet 84 therefrom. Thus, it will be appreciated that the slot extensions 78, 80 provide an accurate positioning and positive locking arrangement for the head 12 for the trimming and edging positions of the blade. This is achieved without requiring high clamping pressure by band 48 as might damage handle tube 18. Furthermore, the slot extensions 78, 80 and rivet 84 are shaped sufficiently deep to bring a terminal edge 87 of tube 18 into engagement with a shoulder 89 on head 12, as shown, when rivet 84 is in either slot extension 78, 80. This also helps hold the head 12 locked to handle tube 18 without requiring excessive clamping forces by the band 48.

By the foregoing there has been disclosed an improved head positioning and retaining means calculated to fulfill the inventive objects herein set forth, and while a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, various additions, substitutions, modifications and ommissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A power operated, trimmer-edger comprising a frame supported for movement along the ground, handle means extending upwardly from said frame for control and manipulation of said trimmer-edger, a head supported upon said frame, said head including a motor drivingly connected to a rotary blade, means interconnecting said head and said frame for adjustment of said head relative to said frame, said interconnecting means comprising an annular clamp positioned within said head and surrounding an annular extension of said frame, said clamp including a slot receiving a projection on said annular frame extension and limiting rotation of said head relative to said frame to substantially 90, said slot extending circumferentially of said clamp and terminating at each end in an axial extension thereof, and means accessible exteriorly of said head for contracting and releasing said clamp about said annular frame extension.

2. A power operated, trimmer-edger comprising a frame including a handle and supported for movement along the ground, a head supported upon said frame and including a motor and a motor driven, rotary blade, said head being adjustable relative to said frame to position said blade for rotation through at least a horizontal and a vertical plane, means releasably securing said head to said frame comprising a split, spring clamp located wholly within said head and having one end fixed thereto, means engaging the other end of said clamp and accessibly operable from outside said head to move the other end of said clamp toward and away from said one end, said clamp surrounding an annular portion of said frame, said clamp and said annular portion including cooperating means positively positioning said head in said trimming and in said edging positions.

3. A trimmer-edger comprising a wheel frame supported for movement over the ground, a tubular handle fixed to said wheel frame and including an upstanding, rearward portion terminating in a hand grip for control and manipulation of said trimmer-edger, said tubular handle extending forwardly of said wheel frame, a power head including a motor and a rotatable blade having a socket receiving said handle tube forwatd portion, clamp means located wholly within said socket and surrounding said handle tube forward portion, said clamp including means cammingly engageable with said handle tube forward portion and operable to press the latter into axial engagement with said head for at least two rotatably adjustable positions of said head relative to said handle tube, and means operable from outside said head to engage said clamp in locking relation to said handle tube forward portion.

4. A trimmer-edger comprising a one-piece hollow tube having a hand grip at one end and ground engaging wheels supported adjacent the other end thereof, a power head including a clam shell housing defining a socket loosely receiving said other end of said tube, a split ring clamp located within said socket for releasably gripping said tube, said clamp having one end fixed to said head and its other end movable relative to said one end to clampingly engage said tube end, said tube end and said clamp including cooperatively engageable means limiting relative movement between said head and said tube and having means operable to positively position said head in at least two positions spaced substantially from one another, whereby to positively position said rotary blade in a horizontal and a vertical position with respect to the ground. 

1. A power operated, trimmer-edger comprising a frame supported for movement along the ground, handle means extending upwardly from said frame for control and manipulation of said trimmeredger, a head supported upon said frame, said head including a motor drivingly connected to a rotary blade, means interconnecting said head and said frame for adjustment of said head relative to said frame, said interconnecting means comprising an annular clamp positioned within said head and surrounding an annular extension of said frame, said clamp including a slot receiving a projection on said annular frame extension and limiting rotation of said head relative to said frame to substantially 90*, said slot extending circumferentially of said clamp and terminating at each end in an axial extension thereof, and means accessible exteriorly of said head for contracting and releasing said clamp about said annular frame extension.
 2. A power operated, trimmer-edger comprising a frame including a handle and supported for movement along the ground, a head supported upon said frame and including a motor and a motor driven, rotary blade, said head being adjustable relative to said frame to position said blade for rotation through at least a horizontal and a vertical plane, means releasably securing said head to said frame comprising a split, spring clamp located wholly within said head and having one end fixed thereto, means engaging the other end of said clamp and accessibly operable from outside said head to move the other end of said clamp toward and away from said one end, said clamp surrounding an annular portion of said frame, said clamp and said annular portion including cooperating means positively positioning said head in said trimming and in said edging positions.
 3. A trimmer-edger comprising a wheel frame supported for movement over the ground, a tubular handle fixed to said wheel frame and including an upstanding, rearward portion terminating in a hand grip for control and manipulation of said trimmer-edger, said tubular handle extending forwardly of said wheel frame, a power head including a motor and a rotatable blade having a socket receiving said handle tube forwatd portion, clamp means located wholly within said socket and surrounding said handle tube forward portion, said clamp including means cammingly engageable with said handle tube forward portion and operable to press the latter into axial engagement with said head for at least two rotatably adjustable positions of said head relative to said handle tube, and means operable from outside said head to engage said clamp in locking relation to said handle tube forward portion.
 4. A trimmer-edger comprising a one-piece hollow tube having a hand grip at one end and ground engaging wheels supported adjacent the other end thereof, a power head including a clam shell housing defining a socket loosely receiving said other end of said tube, a split ring clamp located within said socket for releasably gripping said tube, said clamp having one end fixed to said head and its other end movable relative to said one end to clampingly engage said tube end, said tube end and said clamp including cooperatively engageable means limiting relative movement between said head and said tube and having means operable to positively position said head in at least two positions spaced substantially 90* from one another, whereby to positively position said rotary blade in a horizontal and a vertical position with respect to the ground. 